Canadian World Traveller

it is the tallest structure in the city. The city’s
architecture and uniqueness is on full display
from the observation deck. Though we did
not stay in the OneRoom Hotel in the tower,
we did enjoy a wonderful meal from way up
in their high-end restaurant. Truly an unforgettable
memory from Prague.
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beck and call, and I was most impressed with
the wait staff who remembered our favourite
nightcap drinks every night. The rooms were
immaculate and crisp from the very attentive
and top-notch housekeeping team. Although
it was a long walk to the central part of
Prague, there is close access to public transportation
and the surrounding neighbourhood
was filled with interesting shops and
restaurants.
Our first outing would be a walking visit to the
charming and opulent Vinohrady district.
In the past, this area had vineyards, but has
transformed into an upscale district with Art
Deco homes and beautiful parks. There are
so many positives and attractive options that
it has become a hub for young professionals.
We enjoyed the abundance of coffee shops
and the Jirak farmers’ markets.
Tower Park Prague
This is an unmistakable Prague landmark, as
WT Photo Library
The Art District
Prague has become a significant location for
art and culture, and the city has created a
myriad of spaces for connoisseurs. The DOX
Centre for Contemporary Art, for example, is
a repurposed factory building that finds itself
in one of Prague’s trendiest districts. As a
tourist, we could only enjoy a fraction of the
DOX’s offerings - a fine exhibition of current
international and Czech art. There are also
many forums to discuss current topics, public
events, film screenings, and interactive workshops.
A true home of ideas.
The National Gallery is also housed in a
repurposed facility. Built in 1928 and originally
intended for the organisation of trade
fairs, the Trade Fair Palace was the biggest
building of its kind in the world back then. We
toured their unique collection of Czech and
foreign arts.
The Hill
Petrin Hill is the hot spot for local families and
visitors as it contains popular tourist attractions
and is covered with a beautiful natural
setting.
The most eye-catching is the Petřín lookout
tower, a 210-foot tall steel-framework tower
built in 1891 that slightly resembles Paris’
Eiffel Tower. What a treat to see another great
view of the city and nearby parks.
The Štefánik's Observatory is an astronomical
observatory founded 1928 and named after
a famous Slovak astronomer named Milan
Rastislav Štefánik. In modern days, the observatory
specializes bringing astronomy and
related natural sciences to the public. We had
a great tour and I learned many new things.
Prague sights
After a wonderful tour of the other parts of the
Czech Republic we would finish off in Prague
by visiting the ever popular and most frequented
Prague attractions: Our stay would
be at a wonderful boutique Hotel Klárov,
which was perfectly located within walking
distance to the best of Prague. The staff was
cheerful and attentive and my suite was
clean, comfortable and nicely decorated.
At the Charles Bridge, a seven century old
historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river
there are 30 baroque statues on it that blends
well with the gothic styling of the bridge. It is
like a walk through history with the movers
and shakers of the area’s past. It is impressive.
Prague Castle is one of the largest castles in
the world. It was a treat to wander around its
courtyards, museums and gardens. You could
see bits and pieces of the overwhelming
beauty of this seat of Czech kings and presidents
for a thousand years. To top it off, there
is the immense St. Vitus Cathedral, one of the
most beautiful in all of Europe – and that is
saying something as I have visited many!
One of my favorite spaces in the entire city is
in the main town square, the Astronomical
mechanical Clock or Orloj, dates back to
1410. Somewhere around 1490, the calendar
dial was added and the clock facade was
decorated with gothic sculptures.
Having been fortunate enough to be in
Prague two previous times, seeing a modern
day renaissance on this visit I could only conclude
that this amazing city has come onto its
own! Bringing all its past painful struggles,
historic treasures, embracing an open market
economy and a member of the European
Union, Prague is now set for a bright and
prosperous future.
www.czechtourism.com
Canadian World Traveller Fall 2019